Francesca Lia Block From her website: “Author Francesca Lia Block is renowned for her groundbreaking novels and stories — postmodern, magic-realist tales that transport readers through the harsh, gritty landscapes of contemporary life to transcendent realms of the senses where love is always our saving grace.” The Elementals is a modern fairy tale of a college student dealing with her mother’s illness and a friend’s disappearance. Weetzie Bat fans will also welcome the chance to discuss this winter’s Pink smog, the story of how Louise became Weetzie

“The beloved star of Block's Weetzie Bat (1989) is back in this charming prequel that finds her at age 13 in the seventh grade, which is like the bad kind of Wonderland. Her beloved dad, Charlie Bat, has decamped for New York after one fight too many with her mother, former starlet Brandy Lyn. Devastated, the woman attempts suicide only to be rescued by a mysterious young man who will loom large in Weetzie's life. In the meantime, our girl begins receiving mysterious messages that may change her life for good or for ill. Weetzie may be younger (and called by her real name, Louise!), but her magical milieu of Los Angeles remains the same: a city where stars leave their handprints in theater courtyards and sunsets are like Pink smog. Block's new novel is an intoxicating mix of mystery, fantasy, and romance told in her signature poetic style and peopled by guardian angels, witches, a goddess, and a demon. Yet all is rooted in a sometimes dark reality of a sensitive young girl who desperately misses her father and is the object of scorn at school. There is hope in new friendships and, as in all of Block's books, there is love, which may be a dangerous angel but is also a life-saving and affirming force to be reckoned with.” – Booklist, starred review We will also be debuting Francesca's new Wildfox collection!! A collection of dreamy t-shirts based on characters from Magical Creatures.

Sponsored by the Children’s Booksellers and Publishers Committee [A cooperative committee of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC), and the Children’s Book Council (CBC)].

Get to know twenty children’s book creators up close and personal! Authors and illustrators will move from table to table, stopping for quick get-to-know-you chats. Please note: this event is for booksellers only!